The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-17
EXPERIENCE WITH A sILo.
The Marvellous Cheapnoss of tho Food II
Produces.

Tie Marvellous Chenpnoss of tho Food 1t
Produces.
Mr.. George W. Koiner, q leading
farmer and stock-raiser of Augusta
County, Va, has furnished the staunton
Vinulicator the following account of bis
experience with silo:
"Last August / put up frame build
ing 12 by IL feet snd - feet high. The
frame is inches, planked mp on b&h
sides. The space between was filled with
sawdust. I put in plank floor and
covered with plank, with door in one
corner at the ground. The building did
not cost over $40, with an estimated
capacity of 80 tons. On August 23d
green corn was cut. Not having planted
the corn for the purpose, and only as an
experiment, l selected the lightest
growth in the corn-6eld. The corn was
cut in halfinch lengths by steam power,
and during the filling of the silo three
men tramped the cut fodder as tight as
they could pack it. The silo was only
filled half full, not feeling sure that this
plan of house would keep it we'll. The
top was then covered with one snd half
feet of dry wheat chaff, and placed loose
plank, closely fitted, covering the entire
top. Upon the plank WAS put two feet
of stone. The gable ends were nailed
up, and the job was completed at cost
of about 81 per ton.
"On December I opened the door at
the bottom made for the purpose Of get
ting the ensilage out. I found it in
splendid condition, except few inches
around the sides and on top. Fearing
there would be some trouble to teach
stock to eat it, some of the ensilage was
offered to horses, COWS and hogs-all ate
it at once with as much relish as if it was
green clover. After feeding the ensilage
few days to the COWS, they increased
their flow of milk, besides giving richer
quality. The stock, which have been fed
upon ensilage alone, except access to a
straw stack, have increased in weight
and manifest an increased appetite and
taste for it. 1t is said that green clover,
cut when in bloom, makes as good en-
silage as green corn. Glover that will
make one and half tons of hay will
make 20 tons Of ensilage per acre, and
corn that will make 40 to so bushels per
acre will make about % tons of ensilage.
"The use of ensilage will produce a
revolution in farming and stock raising.
The present low prices demanding q
change from the old management Of
stock raising, ensilage is the one great
panacea for the stock raiser. Instead Of
selling wheat at less than the cost of
production, beef can be grown at almost
half the cost under the present manage
ment. Cattle will thrive and grow
through the winter as in summer, and a
steer raised on ensilage during the winter
months, at two years old would be about
as large as at three under the ordinary
reign, thus saying years feed. 1t will
open up the dairy business in new
light. Milk and butter can be produced
in the same quantity and cost in winter
az in summer.
"Writers on the subject who have fed
ensilage, claim that one acre of heavy
clover or corn ensilage will feed four
COWS six months; if it will only keep
half that number it will be q wonderful
improvement upon the present way of
wintering stock. Stock have been fat
tened upon ensilage exclusively.
"Sir J. B. Lawes, the eminent English
agriculturist, after experimenting with
ensilage, says it loses only one-tenth OF
its nutritive value as compared to its
green state. Ensilage is rich in albumi-
noids and heterogeneous substance, and the
process of fermentation which it under
goes in the silo is said to take the place
of one degree in digestion.
"The idea that silo is expensive has
deferred many farmers from trying it.
The above described plan is as cheap as
can be made, has proven to keep ensiage
about as we'll as the more expensive un-
derground plans. The silo has come to
stay, and will enable every farmer who
uses it to keep double the number of
stock, and keep them much better and
at less cost. 1t is as applicable to sheep
husbandry as any other stock, and hogs
are said to winter very we'll upon it."